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 Topic: Newbie using leisure battery.
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03/9/2019 at 1:49pm
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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Hi Hughes1965, welcome to the forum.
OK, The make and model of van is not really important. It comes down to, what is the capacity and condition of the leisure battery(s), and what you want to use.
Off grid you would run the fridge on gas so little drain on battery. Similarly, the cooker will use gas. At night, you can work out the average current the lights will use and the pump will run occasionally. Now it comes down to things like a 60" "smart" TV, Mega hi-fi system, charging two tablets and 5 phones etc...
Only joking, but it all comes down to what you use. Generally you could get 2, 3 or more days off grid, and more if you have a solar panel.
The engine will power the fridge and charge the leisure battery when it is running.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
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03/9/2019 at 7:28pm
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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The only thing I would add is that if you don't have them already, swap your interior lights for LED ones. They only use about 20% energy of halogen lights.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
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03/9/2019 at 8:44pm
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I don't know if it helps but years ago I had a caravan with no EHU. I had a leisure battery which I charged up at home before every trip. The leisure battery powered the 12 volt lighting, the gas fridge ignition, the gas fire ignition, and the water pump.
I was careful with the lighting and only put the lights on at whichever end of the caravan I happened to be in - lol - although I needn't have been that careful because on arrival back home after a weekend away I discovered hardly any power had been used from the battery at all.
I had an old fashioned black and white portable TV and ran that off a car jump start power pack which had a 12 volt output. That seemed to last well for the hour or so that I watched TV in the evenings and of course saved draining the leisure battery.
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04/9/2019 at 8:41am
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Toyota Granvia (Wellhouse)
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We used to manage fine for up to a week off hook-up(at festivals)with our previous MHs.
..and that was with just their single OE battery, and no solar.
We didn't watch TVs/stream movies on laptop/ use an inverter to run a microwave/hair straighteners etc etc..
So- lights, water pump, and some camera & phone battery charging..
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04/9/2019 at 10:30am
Location: Devon
Outfit: Dreamer(Rapido) D.55 select Plus
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Only thing to add to all the good advice above is that it is recommended that the auxilary/leisure battery should not normally be allowed to drop below 12.2 volts (this is 50% charged) This will ensure maximum life of the battery. This can be monitored on the display on most vans - check when not on EHU. (If a multimeter is available check at the battery terminals to see if monitor display is accurate.)
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The older I get the better I used to be.
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via mobile 03/9/2019 at 1:08pm
